Future of Business Blog

Retail customers expect a shopping experience that is tailored to their needs. What used to be a niche or high-end personalized experience is becoming the norm. Retailers who have not adapted or are slow to change will become part of retail history. But there is still time to adapt and become part of the future of retail. Successful adaptation can take many forms, including creating a space for interaction and adventure within the retail space itself. Some retailers provide space …

Startups exist to solve problems. They run lean and agile so they can pivot easily. Startup culture was born to innovate and like Jack the Giant Slayer, they can disrupt the profit centers of even the most successful corporations by essentially stealing their goose that lays the golden egg. This can leave affected corporations scrambling for relevance but unable to pivot quickly because of the weight of their corporate structure and lack of a top-down innovation mindset. Just look at …

Shopping became a social activity back in the late 1800s Britain with the opening of Selfridges, the first department store. Back then, it was unseemly for women to go places unaccompanied, but Selfridges provided them with a safe space to spend their days. The sexist jokes about women and shopping are too numerous to count, but Selfridges literally started the “women be shopping” movement. Department stores sprang up everywhere which then led to the beloved American shopping mall. Malls became …

We are on the edge of a massive extinction event. It’s not one you may think; it is the death of the American Shopping Mall. Retail giants like Sears, Macy’s and Kmart have all announced store closures with other big-box retailers and smaller specialty stores disappearing altogether.

In this era of uncertainty and exponential change, running an organization can be harder than ever — even by seasoned leaders. Markets, technology, and knowledge are evolving faster that organizations can learn or adapt. The speed of change is even affecting the organization itself. This is why leadership skills, both innate and learned, are becoming increasingly important during this age of innovation.